Well-boring tool.



D. D. BUICK.

WELL BORING TOOL. APPLICATIOIN FILED JUNE 3. 1914.

QLlfiQJ'PQ, Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEEF 2.

- kHz/71%)" T [WWW DAY I). BUICK, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

WELL-Bonnie roan.

insane.

Specification 0'1" Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

Application filed June 3, 1914. Serial No. 842,667.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID D. BUICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles, State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in \Vell-Boring Tools, of

, which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a well boring tool, and particularly pertains to a drill for s nking casings in oil well drilling operations.

In the ordinary methods of drilling wells, tubular drill rods carrying a drill thereon are employed to drill the well-hole in advance of a well-casing which is lowered into the bore formed by the drill and which drill is usually of the underreamer type to cut a hole slightly larger than the well-casing. It frequently occurs that the drill becomes broken through various causes, or worn to such an extent that sharpening is required, which ordinarily necessitates withdrawing the drill pipe in order to effect the removal of the drill from the well. N Vhere the well is of great depth, as is the case in oil well operations, the withdrawal of the drill by removing the drill stem involves considerable time. and labor, with consequent expense, by reason of the. drill stem sections having to be disconnected when being withdrawn. from the well and rengag'ed in being replaced in the well. 7

It is the object of this invention to obviate the above difficulties by providing a drill which may be readilyremoved and replaced without disturbing the drill pipe to which it is attached.

Another object is to provide an effective means for connecting the drill to the drill pipe, which will permit of its ready detachment therefrom and removal through the interior of the drill pipe without necessitating the withdrawal of the latter from the well, and which drill is so constructed that when in its connected position with the drill pipe it will be capable of cutting a bore of a diameter sufiicient to accommodate the Well casing.

A further object is to provide a well boring tool adapted to be lowered through a drill pipe automatically connected to a drill shank on the lower end thereof and readily removed as required, and which is so designed that boring tools for cutting holes of various diameters may be put in place as occasion may require without changing the drill stem. i

A further object is to provide a drill of such configuration as to maintain a cutting edge thereon while wearing away so as to obviate frequent sharpening.

The invention embodies a vertical blade of a width approximating the internal di-- ameter of a hollow'drill stem, on which blade at palr of underreaming blades are pivotally mounted and adapted-to be extended onopposite sides of the vertical blade when the latter is-lowered to a'point below the lower end of a shank on the drillrod and retained in such position so as to extend on opposite sides of the drill rod a suflicient distance to cut a bore large enough to accommodate the desired size of well casin gand also includes a means for detachably locking the blades in connection with the drill shank in such manner that they can be 1 iad-ily disengaged therefrom and withdrawn through the'drill stem, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which v Figure 1 is a detail vertical section of the lower end of the drill shank, showing the .drill connected thereto in its well boring position. Fig. 2 is a section of the drill shank on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the drill in side elevation. Fig. 3 is a detail .section corresponding to Fig. 1, illustrating the drill in elevation in its disconnected position and as drawn into the hollow drill shank. Fig. 1 is an enlarged detail horizontal section on the line l l of Fig. 3 showing the interior formation of the drill shank. Fig. 5 is an Jenlarged section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1. Fig. (3 is an enlarged section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3 with the drill shank removed. Fig. 7 is a detail ele- ,drill embodied in this invention, and by which the drill is engaged and rotated on revolving of the drill rod to which the shank 10 is attached in any desired manner.

The drill shank 10 is tubular in form and its upper portio'h has a cylindrical inner wall which converges at its lower end on its diametrically opposite sides, "forming inwardly extending tapered portions 11 and 12 as shown in Fig. 2, and terminates in a narrow rectangular opening 13 at the lower end of the drill shankpthe opening 13 having a length equivalent to the internal diameter of the shank. Formed in the inner wall of the thickened portions 11 and 12 of the shank are vertically extending channels 14 and 15,the side walls of which converge downwardly and terminate in shoulders 16 and 17 a short distance from the lower end of the shank, as shown in Fig. 2, and formed in the interior walls of the shank on diametrically opposite sides there of at a point above the tapered portions 11 and 12 are notches l8 and 19 having their upper ends extending into the walls of the shank at right angles thereto to form shoulders 20 and 21; the bottom faces of the notches 18 and 19 extending from the shoulders 20 and 21 downwardly and inwardly at an inclination with their lower ends terminating in theinner peripheral surface of the shank." These notches 18 and 19 are arranged on aplane at right angles to the channels 14 and 15 and are spaced a distance thereabove. I

The drill includes a flat blade 22 of a width slightly less than the internal diameter of the shank and of any suitable length. the lower portion of the blade being tapered on its opposite sides and converging to its lower end. The lower end of the blade 22 constitutes its cutting edge, which is here shown as formed by curving the lower edge' of the blade outwardly and downwardly from its center and beveli'ng these arcuate edges 23 and 24 on opposite sides in relation to each other, as particularly'shewn in Fig. 8; the beveled arcuate edges intersecting with the parallel side edges of the blade at approximately right angles thereto and forming points, which, on the rotation of the blade, will form a bore of a diameter corresponding to the width of the blade.

The blade 22 is formed with a longitudinally extending slot 25 through which a pin 26 extends. This pin 26 projects on opposite sides of the blade 22 and forms a pivotal mounting for a pair of underreamer blades 27 and 28. which are disposed on opposite sides of the blade 22 and normally depending in'a vertical position, as shown in Fig. 3, with the pivot-pin 26 engaging the lower end of the slot 25. These plates27 and 28 Y are preferably flat and. substantiallv rectangular in form-with one end rounded on an arc of a circle concentric with the pivot pin 26 and with one edge tapered from a point mid-wav of the length of thexblacle to its outer end to form cutting edges 29. The pivot pin 26 engages the plates 27 and 28 at a point adjacent their rounded ends and on the longitudinal centers thereof; ends of the pivot pin 26 projecting beyon the outer faces'of the blades a sufticient Mstance to extend into the grooves 14 and in the drill shank to engage the shoulders 16 and 17, asshown in Fig. 2.

Formed on'the rounded ends of the blades 27 and 28 adjacent the pivot pin 26 and on opposite sides ofthe longitudinal cen ter thereof, are inwardly extending notches 30 and 31, the walls of which are curved to form cam faces by which studs 32 and 33 on opposite sides of the blade 22 are engaged; the notch 30 on the plate 27'engaging the stud 32 and the notch 31 on the plate 28 engaging the stud 33. The studs are arranged on opposite sides of the vertical center of the blade 22 and adapted to cooperate with the pivot pin 26 when the ends of the latter are engaged by the shoulders 16 and 17 to rock the plates 27 and 28 into horizontal alinement with each other and into a position at right angles to the blade 22, as shown in Fig. 1. The blade 22 is formed with a longitudinal groove 34 on each side thereof, by which liquid in the. drill stem is directed to the cutting edge of the blade 22 longitudinally thereof and formed in the plates 27 and 28 are diagonal grooves 35 through which the liquid may be directed to the cutting edges of said plates. I

Pivotally connected to the opposite sides of the blade 22 adjacent its upper end is a pair of links 36 and 37 which normally exengage the shoulders 20 and 21; the links 36 and 37 connecting with links 40 and 41 pivotally connected to the opposite sides of a rectangular weight plate 42 having a width approximating the internal diameter of the shank 10. The pivot pins 43 and 44 connecting the links 36 and 40, and 37 and 41, respectively, project into notches 45 and 46 formed on the lower end of the plate 42, the walls ofwhichnotches serve to normally maintain the links 36 and 40 and the links 37 and 41 extending in opposite directions on opposite sides of the vertical center of the plate 42. as shown in Fig. 1.

The upper end of the plate 42 is formed with an upwardly projecting stem portion 47 which terminates at its upper end in a conical head 48 having a shoulder 49 adapted to be engaged by a suitable detachable clamp carried by a cable, not shown, by which the device inav be raised and lowered in the drill rod and tubular drill shank 10.

In the applicat on and operation of the invention. the drill is placed in position by lowerin it through the drill shank 10 with the parts positioned, as shown in Fig. 3: The lower edge of the blade 22 on c ming in contact with the tapered sides of the inarsenawardly inclined portions 11 and 12 of the lower sections of the drill shank is so directed thereby as to enter and pass through the narrow opening 13 in the lower end of the drill stem. Continued downward movement of the blade causes the ends of the pivot pin 26 to engage the shoulders 16 and 17 in'the grooves 14 and 15 so as to bring the pivot pin to a stop. Further downward movement of the blade will then cause the studs 32 and 33 thereon to engage the wallsof the notches 30 and 3l on the plates 27 and 28, thereby rocking the latter into a horizontal position below the lower ends of the drill shank 10; the upper edges of the plates '27 and 28 entering vertical slots 50 formed on diametrically opposite sides of pin 26 .to inhibit further downward movement of the blade. The blade 42 will continue its downward movement until the tapered ends 38 and 39 of the links 36 and 37 extend into the notches 18 and 19 and engage with the shoulders 20 and 21, whereupon the plate 22 is locked against upward movement in relation to the shank 10. The weighted plate 42 then acts to maintain the links 36 and 37 in their distended position. The parts of the drill are then positioned, as shown in -Fig. 1,.in readiness for operation and on rotation of the drill the cutting edges 23 and 24 will cut a preliminary central bore of a diameter corresponding to the width of the plate 22; the blades 27 and 28 operating to enlarge the initial bore to a diameter suiiicient to accommodate the well casing 51.

When it is desired to remove the drill the drill shank 10 is drawn upward a short distance so as to cause the inclined bottoms of the notches 18 and 19 to force the links 36 and 37 inwardly to move their outer ends out of engagement with the shoulders 20- and-21, whereupon an upward pull on a line I connected with the upper end of the plate 42 will operate to lift the plate and draw the links 36 and 40, and 37 and 41, inw irdly' toward the center of the plate, and thereby position the ends 38 and 39 of the links 36 and 37 clear of the walls of the stem. Conthe pivot pin 26, which pin will remain.sta-- tionary in relation to the blade 22- until it engages'the lower end of the slot-:25? The blades 27 and. 28 will then be disposed in a vertical position on opposite sides of the blade 22, as shown in Fig. 3, whereupon the drill may be withdrawn. The blades 27 and 28 are interchangeable and blades of differexit lengths may be mounted on the pivot pin 26 accordingto the'diameter of the bore to be formed. As a means for preventing 0bstruction of the movements of the blades 27 and 28 in relation to the blade 22 by the accumulation of clay thereon, spacing washers 52 are interposed between the blades 27 and 28 on the pivot pin 26, and covered ribs 53 are formed on the opposite sides of the blade 22 which serve to space the blades 27 and 28 from the blade 22.

For the purpose of preventing choking and to permit the free passage of the materials loosened by the drill up along the sides of the drill shank 10, the latter is tapered on its lower end as indicated at 54.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In a well boring tool, the combination with a tubular shank, of a removable blade adapted to project through the lower open end of the shank, a pair of underreamer blades pivotally mounted on the first-mentioned blade, means whereby the underreamer blades will be, caused to assume a position at right angles to the first-named blade on lowering the latter through the lower end of the tubular shank, and means for detachably holding the underreamer blades in their distended position and for detachably locking the first-named blade in the shank.

2. In a well boring tool, the combination with a tubular shank open at its lower end,

of a 'vertical blade adapted to slide in said shank, a pair of underreamer blades pivotwhereby the underreamer blades will be rocked into a position at right angles to the vertical blade on lowering the latter to the lower end of the shank.

3. In a well boring tool, the combination with a tubular shank open at its lower end,

of a vertical blade adapted to slide in said shank, a pair of underreamer blades pivoted tothe vertical blade having notched ends, studs on the vertical blade extending into the notches on the unde'rreamer-blades, and me \IlS on the shank for engaging the blades an cooperating with the studs and notches, wr sreby the underreamer blades will be rocked into a position at right angles to the vertical blade on lowering the latter to the lower end of the shank, and means for locking the vertical blade against movement in relation to the shank, whereby the underreamer blades are maintained in their ex tended position;

cooperating with the shoulders on the shank t. A well boring tool, comprising a tubular shank open at its lower end and having oppositelyextendin shoulders on its interior, avertical bla e reciprocally mounted inthe shank having a longitudinally extendgage the notches in the underreamer blades.

and cooperating with the shoulders in the shank to rock the underreamer blades to a horizontal position at right angles to the vertical blade, and means on the vertical blade engageable with notches in'the shank for locking'the blade in its lowermost position'in the shank, whereby the underreamer blades are locked in their distended position.

'5. A well boring tool, comprising a tubular shank open at its lower end and having oppositely extending shoulders .on its interior, a vertical blade reciprocally mounted in the shank having a longitudinally extending slot therein, a pivot pin slidably mounted in said slot adapted to have its ends engaged by the shoulders in the shank, a pair of normallv vertically extending underreamer blades mounted to swing on said pivot pin and having notches in their upper ends, studs projecting from the oppositesides of the vertical blade adapted to engage the notches in the underreamer blades and to rock the underreamer blades to a horizontal position at right angles to the vertical blade, and means on the vertical blade engageable with notches in the shank for looking the blade in its lowermost position in.

the shank, whereby the underreamer blades are locked in -theirdistended position, and means-operating through the tubular shank for releasing the vertical blade to permit its being drawn through the shank.

6. A well boring tool, comprising the combination with a tubular shank having a cyawaits shoulders formed on opposite sides of said slot, of a flat blade adapted to extend through the slot in the lower end of the shank and having a vertical slot therein, a pivot pin slidably mounted in said slot and adapted to be engaged at its ends by the shoulders in the shank, a pair of underreamer blades pivoted on said pivot pin, and

means on said blade engageable with the underreamer blades, whereby the latter will be rocked to a horizontal position and extend in oppositedirections in relation to each other and project on opposite sides of the vertical blade upon engagement of the pivot pin by the shoulders in the shank, and means for detachably locking the vertical blade in its lowermost position on the shank.

7. A well boring tool," comprising the combination with a tubular shank'having a cylindrical bore terminating in the lower end of the shank in an elongated slot and having shoulders formed on opposite sides of said slot, of a fiat blade adapted to extend through the slot in the lower end of the shank and having a vertical slot therein, a pivot pin slidably mounted in said slot and adapted to be engaged at its ends by the shoulders in the shank, a pair of underreamer blades pivoted on said pivot pin, and means on said blade engageable with the underreamer blades, whereby the latter will be rocked to ahorizontal position and extend in opposite directions in relation to each day of May, 1914.

D. D. BUICK Witnesses:

MARGUERITE BATES, MARIE BATTEY. 

